Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program

Since 1982, the Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (BAVLP) has provided pro bono opportunities for attorneys who want to donate their time and share their expertise to help those in need in our community. The BAVLP collaborates with professional associations, law firms, the judiciary, and local bar sections and committees to offer a wide variety of pro bono projects. The BAVLP can help you choose a volunteer opportunity that suits your interests, skills, and availability. Whether you are a litigator or a transactional attorney, a new or experienced attorney, or an attorney with limited time to volunteer, there is a pro bono project that is right for you.

BAVLP - NW

Bay Area Legal Services partnered with the Clearwater Bar Association to establish the Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program Northwest office (BAVLP-NW) in January of 2014. BAVLP-NW provides pro bono services to the under-served population of North Pinellas County and West Pasco County. Similar to the original BAVLP in Tampa, attorneys are able to donate their time and share their expertise to help residents of these counties. The BAVLP-NW collaborates with professional associations, law firms, the judiciary and the local bar sections and committees to offer a wide array of pro bono projects. There are a variety of pro bono opportunities available such as litigation, mentorship, and providing legal advice/information at various community resource centers. Whether you are a new or seasoned attorney, we can assist you with choosing a volunteer opportunity that suits your interests, skills, and availability. If you would like to collaborate with BAVLP-NW, we would love to hear from you! To volunteer, contact Nery Alonso at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Why do you do pro bono? Thanks to Jennifer Robinson, a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School, you can find out why some of our volunteers do pro bono work. Click here to see the video.

The opportunity to expand your legal expertise or develop new legal skills

Training, mentoring, and supervision for many projects

Clients with meritorious claims who have been pre-screened for eligibility

Reimbursement for litigation costs and other case-related expenses

Projects that have been developed to address the legal needs of our community

CLE credit for some trainings

The opportunity to network within the legal community

Liability insurance coverage for BAVLP projects

An accounting of your pro bono hours for reporting to the Florida Bar

Acknowledgement and recognition among your peers and the community

The satisfaction of knowing you helped someone in need

Training: The BAVLP offers free training in a variety of practices and specialties to meet the needs of volunteer attorneys. Training is provided through seminars, online, or by DVD. Some training may qualify for CLE credit. For more information and a schedule of upcoming trainings: www.floridaprobono.org/education/